Mar 19, 2024  
ACE Employee Handbook 2020 
    
ACE Employee Handbook 2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Domestic Partnerships


ACE, as required by law, provides the same benefit package to registered same-sex domestic partners of employees as it does to legal spouse of employees if it is recognized by the state of the employee’s residence. Domestic Partners who are opposite-sex who are in a “common law” living situation will be asked to provide proof of arrangement via a common law certification from their local courthouse.

Same-Sex Domestic Partnerships Definition

The term “registered same-sex domestic partner” refers to two persons of the same gender, age 18 or older, who are not related by blood closer than permitted by the state of Indiana marriage laws. The couple declares that they are each other’s sole domestic partner and are responsible for each other’s welfare.

The definition is intended to cover same-sex relationships - people who are partners and not roommates. A “registered same-sex domestic partnership” is defined as two individuals of the same gender who formally declare they are in a committed relationship of an indefinite duration, who support each other, and whose relationship resembles a mutually exclusive partnership that parallels a marital relationship.

You must complete an affidavit registering your same-sex domestic partnership in your resident state and obtain a Declaration of Same-Sex Domestic Partnership in order to be eligible for benefits.